Southwark 20 - 17 Old Williamsonians Match Report

Pre-match traffic from the Leeds vs Millwall game lead to the Old Wills having time for just a quick warm up before heading straight into what was expected to be a tough game for both sides based on previous encounters.

The Wills managed to take an early advantage after 5 mins, with good hands through the backs setting the electric Ben ‘Gonzales’ Shears away on the wing, where he cut inside the fullback and out paced the winger to score under the posts, maintaining his record of one try every league game this season. Callum’ Bowders’ Bowdrey happily converting the extra two.

The following period of play saw both teams have spells of possession. Some good aggressive tackling from the Wills was marred by some Fijian head hunting of sorts and after been given a team warning by the Ref, Alex ‘Alice’ Cross got a little bit over zealous in a tackle and earned himself a 10 minute rest in the sin bin.

The Lancers hoofed the ball up field from the resulting penalty, but knocked on the following line-out leaving the Wills with the put in to a scrum 10metres away from their own line. The 7-man scrum was no match for the Southwark pack and whilst getting driven backwards the ball came squirting out the side of the scrum where the Lancers flanker was quickest to react gathering the ball and driving over the line for their opening try. The conversion was sunk by the Southwark 10 drawing them level.

The resurgent Wills then began to turn on the style with some decent play from the backs and some good work around the breakdown by the forwards leading to successive opportunities at goal. Captain Bowdrey must have had is mind on the upcoming night out and the girls of the Medway towns as he managed to pull them both. The Lancers bounced back and had a couple of attempts at goal of their own. The Southwark 10 slotted the second kick taking the game into half time 10-7 to the lancers.

A couple of phases after the kick off the wills took the lead again, great vision from the front row saw Oliver ‘Mad-eye’ Woolcock ship the ball to Reece ‘Bland’ Price who in turn unleashed the ever rampant Ashley ‘Slick-Back’ Smith on the wing who danced round two defenders to cross the whitewash for the Wills second try of the game. Remembering where he was Callum ‘Bowders’ Bowdrey made the two point play leaving the Wills 14-10 ahead.

The rest of the half was dominated by Southwark where good tactical kicking and ill discipline from the Wills round the breakdown area kept the ball out the Old Wills danger men in the three quarter line. Even without the ball the Wills managed to put on some impressive plays with big hits going in from Tom ‘Tim’ Holland and Mr Intensity himself Oliver ‘Mad-Eye’ Woolcock. The prolonged period of defence eventually took its toll on the Wills. A kick from a penalty into the corner gave the Lancers good field position and the resulting couple of phases saw the forwards barrel over for a try giving them a three point advantage.

Knowing they needed to score the Wills managed to string together a rare phew phases which lead to a penalty. Callum ‘Bowders’ Bowdrey then proceeded to make his second best kick of the game, after a scintillating volley on the full in the first half, bringing the Wills level at 17 a piece.

From the resulting kick off the Lancers pinned the Wills down in their own half and after struggling to clear, the Wills gave an inevitable penalty away in easy kicking distance. The Southwark 10, who was meticulous with the boot all day, made the kick returning the home-sides three-point lead with not long left to play. The scores stayed the same until the end of the game with the Southwark pack doing well to close out the game and handing the Wills their first loss of the season.

Unlucky for the Wills, but a lot of games left to play.

Up the Willies!!!!!!!!!!!